Electoral reform agenda in Bangladesh

The deadly 2024 protests in Bangladesh ousted Prime Minister Sheik Hasina and ended her 15-year rule. An interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, was then formed. Efforts to reform government and other institutions ensued including the formation of the Electoral Reform Commission.

Bangladesh has consistently ranked low in global democracy and freedom indices. In Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2024 report, Bangladesh was tagged as “partly free” garnering 40 out of a possible 100 points measuring political rights and civil liberties. The report noted sustained harassment of the opposition and their perceived allies, critical media and civil society. Poor due process guarantees and human rights violations of security forces were also observed.

International IDEA in a report said the 12th general election was characterized by “toxic politics, an opposition boycott, crackdowns on dissent, repression, voting irregularities, and widespread violence” and that it “fell short of basic level of procedural and operational integrity, genuine political competition, inclusion, voter participation, safety, credibility, and legitimacy.”

The electoral reforms, including key institutional reforms that would contribute to ensuring electoral integrity, are needed more than ever especially amid a rare period of transition and transformation towards realizing the democratic aspirations of a nation post-authoritarian rule.

As the country expects to hold elections later this year or in early 2026 as pronounced by the interim government, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) seeks to discuss the electoral reform prospects for Bangladesh and the key institutional reforms addressing issues and challenges that continue to hound Bangladesh.